Probable line-ups

Injury news

That means Ryan Fredericks will be brought in to fill the full-back berth. Daniel Ayala will serve a one-match suspension, while James Husband (groin) and goalkeeper Tomas Mejias (back) remain on the sidelines.

Damia Abella is stretchered off

Mustapha Carayol (cruciate) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) are unlikely to be involved before Christmas.

Scott Hogan will be missing for the visitors after suffering a serious knee injury which has all but ended his season.

The thoughts of the boss

"We have had two good wins away from home and now we need to continue that good form by beating Brentford.

"If we lose on Saturday it will be another set-back.

We have had two good results and we have to keep going with the same intensity, the same consistency.

"We have to be careful with the players so I will be making changes.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka

"We have seven months ahead of us and we can’t afford to make a mistake.

"So players who didn't play at Cardiff and players who are more fresh can come into the team.

"Ryan Fredericks will play in place of Damia Abella.

"He played last season 14 or 15 games for Millwall so he knows the division, he knows the league.

"He’s a right-back who likes to go forward and attack. I don’t have a doubt that he will play well."

Opposition's view

Manager Mark Warburton has backed Brentford to put Tuesday’s disappointment behind them as they arrive at the Riverside.

The Bees face Boro in the league for the first time since April 1987, and have a point to improve after a 3-0 home defeat to Norwich earlier in the week.

Brentford Manager Mark Warburton

Warburton believed that result hinged on the referee’s decision not to award Brentford a penalty when Alex Pritchard was felled in the box.

He said: "The players will be very keen to correct an injustice (at Middlesbrough).

"They are top professionals. They’ve shown their quality, their work ethic and professionalism."

Their man in the know - Tim Street, Ealing Gazette

"Teams usually come up and try to long ball it and get punished, but Brentford try to pass it and play good attacking football. It seems to be working.

"They have adjusted well and are certainly not sitting back in fear.

"Before Norwich they had only lost one in five and that was close. And against Norwich they weren't dominated.

"They were in the game for long spells and had chances before being punished for a couple of mistakes.

"That’s the main difference in this league. You have to take your chances in tight games because the other side will take theirs."

Who's the dangerman?

Midfield enforcer Jonathan Douglas will be looking to stifle Boro’s attacking players tomorrow as Brentford target a first league win over the Teessiders since 1938.

The 32-year-old battler will sit behind Brentford’s midfield quartet and is likely to be given the role of marking either Lee Tomlin or Jelle Vossen in front of his back four.

Brentford's Jonathan Douglas (Image: Action Images)

With eight Republic of Ireland caps and more than 130 Bees appearances to his name, Douglas is an experienced campaigner who has earned the respect of Brentford fans since his move to Griffin Park from Swindon in June 2011.

Douglas was on the scoresheet for Brentford in their pulsating 3-2 win over Brighton on Saturday.

What's the form?

Two away victories within a week and Aitor Karanka’s Boro can look back on a promising start to the season.

The promotion hopefuls followed up last weekend’s 2-1 win at Huddersfield with a gritty 1-0 victory at Cardiff and Karanka’s next aim will be to rectify Boro’s shaky home form.

Back-to-back home defeats against Sheffield Wednesday and Reading last month set alarm bells ringing among some fans.

But a fruitful end to the transfer window has done much to alleviate any concern.

Kike celebrates his goal 0-1

With an abundance of attacking riches now at his disposal, Karanka will be expected to mastermind Boro’s third successive Championship victory and further highlight their promotion credentials.

Championship newcomers Brentford travel to Teesside within touching distance of the top six following an impressive start to the season.

The Bees felt aggrieved during Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat against Norwich, but Mark Warburton’s side are made of sterner stuff than that scoreline suggests.

Before the Canaries’ visit Brentford enjoyed a four-match unbeaten run in the league, winning three and scoring eight goals in the process.

Many wondered if the Bees could recover from losing top scorer Clayton Donaldson to Birmingham in the summer, but striker Andre Gray and winger Moses Odubajo have both already netted twice in the league.

A win at the Riverside would likely propel Brentford into the play-offs places and prove to be a big statement of their intentions this season.